Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE GEORGE W. SGHOFIELD, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

IMPROVEMENT INuBREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,225, dated June 20, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE v of the United States Army, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawing.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

The invention relates to that class of firearms which open for loading byturning on a pivot, which pivot connects the barrel and frame. The objects of this invention are, rst, to provide alock-fast for such weapons, which shall hold the barrel securely in the position for firing; second, to provide a cylinder-stay for holding the cylinder in position when the weapon is opened for loading or ejecting discharged cartridgecases; third, to provide a simple and eiiective ejector-spring stop.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the barrellatch or hook A. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe back of same. Fig. 3 is a view showing the manner of inserting the latch. Fig. 4. 1s a perspective view, showing the latch A inserted, a

portion of the recoil-shield broken out. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cylinder-stay and sight. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, showing the relation of the latch A, lug L, and adjacent parts; also the ejector-spring stop, and its relation to the ejector-spring. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ejector-spring stop. Fig. 8 is a view of the lower surface of tail of barrel V. Fig. 9 is a view showing the relation of the hook A to the shoulder I on the tail V of the barrel, being an enlarged section..

General Description.

A in the accompanying drawing is the barrellatch or hook, which is composed of one y piece of metal. a is the bodyT of the latch. b b are the legs; c, the pivotholes; d, the arch;

W. SCHOEIELD,

the rear part of the shoulder I would come in contact with the upper part of the latch A, hence preventing a premature discharge by bringing the cartridges in contact with the tiring-point of the hammer in closing the piece. Two slots, E, are cut vertically in the recoilshield, on either side of the hammer-shoulder, to receive the legs b b ofthe hook or latch A, which is held in position by a screw, F, upon which it pivots. The pivot F, on which the latch A moves, is placed in rear of the vertical plane, midway between the rear vertical face of the convex shoulder I, on the tail of the barrel, and. the junction of this shoulder with the barrel, so that the concave locking vnotch m ofthe latch A, when in its locke-d position, is in front of a perpendicular lille drawn through the center of the axis on which the latch A is pivoted, which center is likewise the center of the circumference of which the curved horizontal faces of the latch-notch 'in and shoulder I are a lsegment at the moment when, in locking the piece, the planes of the cords of said faces impinge; and when the barrel is closed the concavity of the latch-notch nz accurately fits upon the whole surface couvexity of the shoulder l on the tail of the barrel. A spring, II, serves to press the latch forward by acting under the heel of one of the legs, or against the rear edge of the same, making the arm self-locking. I is a convex shoulder, curving downward from rear to front,

der the latch 'of hook A locks. ing an elevation of the recoil-shie1d, its rear surface being the segment of a circle centering in the center of the pivot on which the barrel turns; the other sides of the lug are vertical, its front being in the vertical plane of the recoil-shield. There is a mortise, Z, in the under part of the tail of the barrel, into which the lug L enters when the weapon is closed, and is of such shape and construction as that the lug L fits into it snugly on the sides and rear when the weapon is locked, the rear surface of the mortise Z being curved to correspond with the curved surface of the lug L. The tail ot' the barrel is also provided with the shoulders t, which iit into the recesses o in the recoil-shield when the barrel is locked. The cylinder-stay M combines in one piece the rear on the tail V of the barrel, upon which shoul- L is a lug, be

sight, with the-sta v projecting vertically downward through the rib ot' the barrel, so as to pass over the edge of thel rear end of the cylinder and prevent its being' moved with the eiector when the piece is opened. This piece M is held in a fixed position by any suitable means. The ejector-spring stop, Fig. 7, is a combined pin, N, and springlever T. The pin passes through the cylindrical cavity which receives the shank of the ejector-shank and spring; it has a groove, R, so placed that when the lever T is turned to a position at or nearly at right angles with the axis ot' the bore the spriu is freed so that the cylinder and ejector 'an be removed.

lVhen the lever vis turned to a position paralle] to the axis of the bore the convexity ot' the pin tits into a groove inthe collar of the eiector-spring, thus holdings. the springand causing' it to act upon and retract the ejector.

Claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The hook or latch A, having the legs bb working' in the slots E, and pivoted in rear of the vertical plane midway of the convex shoulder I on the tail ot' the barrelV V, and provided with the concave locking-notch m, arch d, notch .1?, and spring; H, as and t'or the nses shown' and described.

2. The combination of the hammer with the latch or hook A, when the front face of the hammer impinges upon the arch in the latch, thereby fixing the latch immovably in its locked position, and preventing the opening or closing of the piece when the hammer is down, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination and relative arrangef ment of the latch or hook A, tail of barrel V, and hammer, whereby the possibility of the discharge ofthe piece by the hammer is prevented until the barrel is securely locked and held down; also preventing premature discharge by the closing of the piece when loaded, as shown and described.

4. The combination of the lug L and tail V of barrel, provided with the mortise Z, and shoulders t, fitting into corresponding recesses o in the recoil-shield, whereby the barrel is held against lateral and longitudinal strains, as shown and set forth.

5. The combination of a latch or hook, A,-

hannner, hn;` L, and tail V of barrel, provided with the mortise Z, whereby the piece is locked,

as shown and described.

In testimony that I claini the foregoing im-v provements in breech-loading tiro-arms, as

above described, I have hereunto set my hand Iand seal this Sth day of May, 1871.

GEORGE W. SCHOFIELD. fL. S.]

Iitnessesz EDM. F. BROWN, J oHN C. Cox. 

